Скачать или смотреть GLUTTONY: Curtis Reeves, Jr. (with guest Dave Aronberg)

In this week's episode, Ashley Willcott discusses the Curtis Reeves Jr. case which was centered on a fatal shooting inside a movie theater in Wesley Chapel, Florida, in January 2014.

In our breakdown segment, Ashely discusses 'stand your ground' in Florida with attorney Dave Aronberg.

Curtis Reeves, a 71-year-old retired Tampa police captain at the time, got into an argument with 43-year-old Chad Oulson over Oulson using his cell phone during the movie previews. The dispute escalated quickly, reportedly involving an exchange of words and culminating in Oulson throwing popcorn at Reeves. In response, Reeves drew a handgun and fired a single shot, striking and killing Oulson. Oulson's wife, Nicole, was also injured by the bullet passing through her husband.

Reeves was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and aggravated battery. His defense team argued that he acted in self-defense, claiming he feared serious bodily injury after Oulson stood up, possibly leaned over, and threw the popcorn. Central to his defense was Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law. The case faced numerous delays over the years, including pre-trial hearings specifically addressing the Stand Your Ground claim, which a judge initially denied, forcing the case to proceed to a full trial.

After nearly eight years of legal proceedings, Curtis Reeves Jr. went to trial in February 2022. The defense maintained that Reeves felt threatened by Oulson's actions and perceived size difference, justifying the use of deadly force under the state's self-defense laws. The prosecution argued that throwing popcorn did not constitute a threat justifying lethal force and portrayed Reeves as angry and acting unreasonably. After deliberation, the jury found Curtis Reeves Jr. not guilty on both charges, acquitting him of the murder of Chad Oulson and the battery of Nicole Oulson.

Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, officially titled "Home Protection; Use of Deadly Force; Presumption of Fear of Death or Great Bodily Harm," is a significant aspect of self-defense legislation in the state. Enacted in 2005, it removes the common law "duty to retreat" before using force, including deadly force, in self-defense. A person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is attacked in any place where they have a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to "stand his or her ground" and meet force with force, including deadly force, if 1 they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another. 2 This law played a crucial role in Reeves' defense strategy, although his acquittal ultimately came from a jury verdict at trial rather than a pre-trial immunity ruling based solely on the statute.